The i3b community is proud to present the 2022 Black and Latine/x Award winners!
The recipient of the Black/Latine/x Advocate of the Year Award is Dr. Tania Lizarazo. The recipient of this award is someone who consistently shows a dedication to serving Black/Latine/x people at UMBC or in the greater Black/Latine/x community through their activism, research, or civic engagement. This person recognizes the challenges unique to many Black/Latine/x people and seeks to contribute to Black/Latine/x communities facing these challenges through their service. The person's passion for service is evident to all those who surround them.
Dr. Lizarazo has been a warrior advocating for the Latinx community at UMBC. She is a professor of Modern Languages, Linguistics & Intercultural Communication. Even with the limitations that virtual class can have, she successfully engaged and fostered love for Latin American topics. She is an advocate of promoting and highlighting the contributions of the Latinx woman in the history of a patriarchal culture. Her support and understanding helped many students get through the times of COVID. This nomination was submitted by Viridiana Colosio Martinez.
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The recipient of the Black/Latine/x Student Leader of the Year Award is Jazmia Perry. The recipient of this award is a Black/Latine/x-identified student who has made a lasting contribution to the UMBC community either through a student organization, a campus student employment position, assistantship, or extracurricular activity. This may be in service to the Black/Latine/x community, to another community, or cause. This student is influential, inclusive, and has a strong social justice lens that promotes equity and community building. The student nominated for this award embodies the idea that service is something that is ongoing and is reflective of the needs of the community they serve.
Jazmia is a mentor for minorities of many different age groups and is an advocate for mental health awareness. She often puts forth sound solutions to issues plaguing society or for the improved functioning of government for its citizens. Wherever she directs her path, it is clear she is equipped to advocate for causes that help the greater good. She portrays these qualities in addition to being a mother. Her peers describe her as very hardworking, enthusiastic, and empathetic. This nomination was submitted by Daniela Garcia-Rojas, Cindy Lo, and Diana Torres.
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The recipient of the Black/Latine/x Scholar of the Year is Sarah Turner. This award recipient is a Black/Latine/x-identified student that has shown strong academic performance during their student career at UMBC either through their coursework, special projects, and/or research. Their work may be Black/Latine/x-focused or not, and it stands out among our gifted and talented UMBC students. This student has demonstrated creativity, persistence, and/or grit despite any sociopolitical or identity-based barriers. A student nominated for this award may also have served as an academic mentor or role model to their peers.
Sarah is a McNair Scholar and a URA recipient who performs research in the Department of Public Policy. Her research this semester focused on disadvantaged students and their academic performance. Even with the many responsibilities she has at home and within McNair, she remains highly efficient and focused on her academic goals. Her wisdom is highly valued within the McNair community. She is not only a strong leader, but an inspiration to her peers.
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The recipient of the Black/Latine/x Ally of the Year award is Beatriz Gutierrez-Malagon. This award recipient is a person who may be Black/Latine/x-identifying or not, but has made a commitment to supporting Black/Latine/x individuals on campus this year. This person has worked to support the Black/Latine/x community on campus in addition to their other academic and co-curricular commitments. If Black/Latine/x identifying, this person has made efforts to help other Black/Latine/x identity groups in the community.
Beatriz has been at UMBC for the past few years serving as a Professional Staff Member. The recipient of the award has consistently demonstrated that she puts in 110% of the work in everything that she does. From advising SGA, to being one of the co-creators of the Multicultural Leadership Experience Initiative, and most recently serving as one of the search committee members on the recent Presidential search committee, it is clear that she is passionate about the work she does and particularly centering the needs of student leaders of color. UMBC is truly fortunate to have her and the nominator states how grateful they are for getting to know her and calling her their colleague.
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The recipient of the Black/Latine/x Excellence Award is Michael Hunt. The award is given to a Black and/or Latine/x-identified person who has had a timeless impact on the UMBC Black and/or Latine/x community and has been with the UMBC community for at least three years. This person has gone above and beyond by demonstrating signs of leadership in the Black and/or Latine/x community either by showing courage, compassion, or common courtesy. This award may go to any current or past staff, faculty, student, and/or alum who's priceless contribution to UMBC's Black and/or Latine/x community echoes the celebration of diversity for which our institution is known.
Michael Hunt has been an advocate for so many students and scholars everywhere over the years. He is the director of the McNair Scholars Program and in this role, he inspires and supports many black and latinx students in their journey to graduate school. With this, he has encouraged, motivated, and uplifted so many people in all minority communities. He wants scholars to know that they shouldn't change themselves to fit into white supremacist institutions-- they will be changing the institution. Having someone like him in your support network/family is highly valued.
Congratulations to all of the 2022 Black and Latine/x Award winners!
Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations, and to those who were part of the nomination process.
Mindfulness Monday: Exploring Spiritual Identity
Monday, May 9, 2022 | 11:45am - 12:45 p.m. | In-Person
myUMBC Event Post: Link | The Center for Well-Being: 109
OCA Mocha Mondays
Diversity Dialogues with i3b
Monday, May 9, 2022 | 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. | In-Person
myUMBC Event Post: Link | Off Campus: OCA Mocha
Coffee, Cocoa, and Conversation
Unveiling the brand new Gathering Space Icon
Thursday, May 12, 2022 | 10:00a.m. - 11:30 a.m | In-Person
myUMBC Event Post: Link | The Center for Well-Being: 109
Black and Latine/x Graduation Celebration
Time to Celebrate UMBC's Black & Latine/x Graduating Students
Tuesday, May 17, 2022 | 5:30 - 8:00 p.m | In-Person
myUMBC Event Post: Link | The Commons: Skylight Room
Pizza at Pride
Study Day Edition
Wednesday, May 18, 2022 | 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. | In-Person
myUMBC Event Post: Link | University Center: Pride Center (201-D)
i3b's 9th Annual Lavender Celebration
Time to Celebrate UMBC's LGBTQIA+ Graduating Students
Wednesday, May 18, 2022 | 6:00 - 8:00 p.m | In-Person
myUMBC Event Post: Link | The Commons: Skylight RoomSpring Center Hours
The Mosaic: Center for Cultural Diversity is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Friday. COVID QTY: 11
The Pride Center is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. COVID QTY: 10
The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday. COVID QTY: 26
**Spaces are only accessible when i3b professional or student staff are present.**
We’d also like to introduce you to our Google Group listservs for each space, as well as various initiatives. Please fill out the Google Form to be added to our listservs.
i3b Community:i3bCommunity-usergroup@umbc.edu
This is our general listserv for any and all UMBC undergraduate, graduate students, staff, faculty, alumni and campus community partners to stay up to date with all i3b events, programs, initiatives and news
i3b's Mosaic Listserv:i3bmosaic-usergroup@umbc.edu
i3b's Gathering Space Listserv:i3bGatheringSpace-usergroup@umbc.edu
i3b’s PrideCenter Listserv:pridecenter-usergroup@umbc.edu
This is a Google Group for the Pride Center, one of three Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion and Belonging (i3b) centers housed within the Division of Student Affairs. This group is meant to communicate information related to the Pride Center and LGBTQIA+ engagement more broadly.
These three listservs are for center-specific news and events.
i3b Retriever Immigrants United:i3bRIU-usergroup@umbc.edu
This is the official mailing list for all news, updates, resources and announcements related to the 1st and 2nd generation immigrant population that RIU centers.
i3b SistaCare:i3bSistaCare-usergroup@umbc.edu
This is the official mailing list for all news, updates, resources and announcements related to SistaCare, a self-care and community-building group open to all undergraduate and graduate Black/Africana women (e.g. trans, cis) and femmes, regardless of their gender expression.
i3b Campus Partners:i3bPartners-usergroup@umbc.edu
This Listserv will be composed of primarily staff and faculty partners, as well as select student and alumni leaders that facilitate outreach across campus on behalf of our shared work at i3b.
Space Usage and Sign-In Process
We are delighted to see our spaces being used by students to study, connect, pray, meditate, and build community. In order to keep up with who is using our spaces, we are moving from paper sign-in sheets to UMBC ID card readers. Just like other events and programs on campus, UMBC ID cards will be scanned at entry for The Mosaic and Pride Centers, and The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being. Collecting student and visitor data will support our assessment practices, and help us make funding decisions regarding supplies, prayer space and other needs. All data collected will be maintained confidentially within the UMBC Rex system. If a student or guest does not have a UMBC ID card, paper sign-in sheets will be available.
UMBC COVID Protocols and i3b Spaces
We will have surgical masks available in all three i3b spaces and expect that all students, staff, and visitors wear their masks for the entirety of their visit unless they are actively eating or drinking. In order to keep all students and staff comfortable and as safe as possible, please remember that proper mask-wearing is required at all times. Those not in compliance will be asked to leave.
You can find more information about the university mask mandate atcovid19.umbc.edu/masks/
As we continue to navigate this experience, you may also want to begin considering virtual meetings, events, and engagements to prioritize our community's health. ]]>